Summary
Originally released in 2022 for consoles,Horizon Forbidden Westdidn’t get a PC version of the game until early 2022. As the successor to the 2017Horizon Zero Dawn, the game extends the storyline, improves on the graphics, and brings refinements to the gameplay features. With its clever combination of a free roam,sandbox-style RPG, with an excellent voice-acted storyline,Horizon Forbidden Westis a polished game in every respect.
Playing the role of the female protagonist, Aloy, the player can choose to take on the full game experience, or try a more relaxed playthrough, more akin to an interactive movie. If the latter option is chosen, combat is made easier, loot more prolific, and additional visual prompts are added to the main playing window and map.
Combat is generally undertaken using ranged weapons, and there is a widerange of potential weaponsthe player can choose from. When it comes to melee combat, the selection is much more limited. The only melee weapon available in the game is the spear, and there are only three variants.
Special Edition Weapon
Stats:
The Nora Legacy Spear is a special edition weapon that is only available tobeginner playerswho purchased the Regalla, Launch, Special, or Collector’s edition of the game. Players who qualify to receive this free special edition spear can find it in their stash, which is accessible from any village or settlement.
During the main story arc, the player has the chance to have this spear modified. Two new functions are added to the Nora Legacy Spear as a result of theweapon modifications; Vine Cutter and a special ability that enables the spear to destroy Firegleam clusters.
Nora Legacy Spear Damage
This spear has light, heavy, and power attacks. It is perfect for using from stealth with heavier attacks, especially when stealth plus a combat leap is used in conjunction, as this triggers maximum damage from this spear. However, timing is key, as power attacks that are triggered too early will not do maximum damage.
The Basic Spear Given To All Players
Aloy’s Spear is the standard melee weapon for new players inHorizon Forbidden West. Many players keep this speer for the entire game, unless they stumble across the quest for the Champion’s Spear, and decide to complete the quest for an upgrade. As less importance is given to melee combat in this game, the spear is generally considered to be a backup weapon.
Aloy’s Spear Attacks
This spear can be used for either light or heavy attacks. Obviously, the former does more damage than the latter. The downside of the heavy attack being the longer attack charge time.
Advanced Spear Given As Quest Reward
The Champion’s Spear is the best of only 3 melee weapons inHorizon Forbidden West. It is given as an automatic quest reward by Sun-King Avad, during the Point of the Lance quest. The design of this spear is based on the Syrlen’s Lance, which the player will see during the aforementioned quest. The basic spear can be upgraded by visiting a workbench. During the storyline, the spear will be given the Igniter and Vine Cutter abilities.
Champion’s Spear Damage
The Champion’s Spear uses the same form of animations as Aloy’s Spear, when the player performs light or heavy attacks. Players will notice that the base stats for attacks across all three spears are identical. For this reason, any of the three available spears inHorizon Forbidden Westis capable of being used throughout the entire game.
Attacks:
Best Use Of Spears
Melee weapons are something of an oddity inHorizon Forbidden West. Aloy is abow user, and there are many variations of bows that players can choose from. Melee weapons are represented by just the 3 different spears covered in this list.
Because of this, most players concentrate almost solely onbow skills. Most combat takes place at range, and spending skill points on melee skills seems something of a waste. However, the spear is a fantastic weapon to use from stealth. Yes, this is a very situational weapon, and may not be worth spending skill points on, but in certain circumstances, striking from stealth with a spear is going to be the optimal way to deal damage, especially whenplaying hard mode.
